Applicator for drill pipe protectors



' I APPLICATOR FOR DRILL PIPE PROTECTORS Filed Aug. '6, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet l m\ N w .1 SN m WW 1--- .-wiii T m g u. .M M

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R. H. HOWARD APPLICATOR DRILL PIPE PROTECTORS Filed Aug. 6, 1958 2sheets-sheet 2 /Q640h H. Howard INVENTOR Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE arrmoa'roa Foa mun. lIPE rao'rac'rons Ralph H.Howard, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application August 6, 1938, Serial No.223,539

4 Claims.

The invention relates to applicators for expansible rubber drill pipeprotectors, and has for its object to provide a device of thischaracter, adapted to be secured to a drill pipe sec- A whereby aprotector may be forced over an expanding mandrel onto the drill pipesection.

A further object is to provide the applicator with a shutter head havinga plurality of pivoted shutters therein, around the mandrel, andnormally forced inwardly to follow the contour of the mandrel and engagethe outer end of the protector as it is expanded in its course over themandrel.

A further object is to provide a split cylindrical extension memberadapted to be interposed between'the protector and the shutter head forforcing the protector a desired distance on the drill pipe beyond thetool joint thereof.

A further object is to connect the applicator to the outer reduced endof the expanding mandrel by a piston rod extending into a travelingcylinder, which carries the shutter head and to provide means wherebysaid cylinder may be reciprocated on the piston rod by fluid pressureacting in opposite ends of the cylinder and on opposite sides of apiston carried by-the piston.

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A further object is to provide a plurality of rods connecting thecylinder and shutter head so they will move together during thereciprocation of the cylinder on the piston. Also to provide the pistonrod with a guide disc, cooperating with the shutter supporting rods forguiding the shutter head axially during the reciprocation thereof.

A further object is to form the pivoted shutter elements so they willmove inwardly to thesmallest diameter of the mandrel under spring actionand will gradually spread as they move over the tapered portion of themandrel, during the expanding operation. Also to so mount the shutterelements that they may be easily removed and replacedwithoutdisassembling the entire shutter head.

-With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangemeint of parts as hereinafter .set forth, shownin the drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changesin the preciseembodiment of the invention'may be made within the scopeof what is claimed without depart ing from the spirit of the invention.

'- In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section view through the applicator,showing the same in position on the end of a drill pipe section,

and the parts in position for the initial movement of the protector.

the parts in position assumed when the protector is on the tool joint.

Figure 3 is.a top plan view of the applicator showing the splitextension sleeve in horizontal section and in position for forcing theprotector onto the drill pipe beyond thejoint.

. Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showingthe position of theprotector after it has 'been forced onto the drill pipe by the splitsleeve.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the split sleeve, showing the sameopen.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 ofFigure 3, and through the shutter head. a

Figure 'I is a detail perspective view of a portion of the shutter head,showing one of the shutters being removed therefrom.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the applicator showing the samesupported on adjustable skids and in position to be applied to a drillpipe end.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the four way valve.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates one end of a drillpipe section and 2 pered extension 3 of conventional form. It is thepresent practice to place on the drill pipe sections annular rubberprotectors l which are expanded in position on the drill pipe over atapered mandrel 5. The tapered mandrel 5 is threaded on the extension 3and terminates at its outer end in a reduced cylindrical portion 6 onwhich .the protector is initially placed for the P starting of theexpanding operation. Secured, 'by means of a pin l'passing through themandrel and through a reduced portion 8 of a piston rod 9 is theapplicator. It will be noted that the piston rod 9 is axially disposedin relation to the ,drill pipe section, and during the protectorexpanding operation the rod is stationary and the cylinder l0reciprocates thereon. The outer end of the rod 9 is provided with apiston i I disposed within the cylinder Ill, and it will be seen thatwhen air is admitted into the end A of the cylinder chamber, through thepipe 12, the cylinder Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing anenlarged joint thereof having a threaded ta- ID will be forced towardsthe mandrel 5. Extending outwardly from the inner end of the cylinderIll and around the shaft Sare rods I3, the outer ends of which areprovided with reduced portions II, which extend through the shutter headcasing l5, clearly shown in Figure l: Disposed within the shutter headcasing i is a plurality of pivoted shutters 15 having recesses at theirpivoted ends designated by the numeral I'|.. The reduced portions l4 ofthe rods I 3,,extending through the casing l5, form bearlugs for thepivoted ends of the shutters, and at the same time allow the same to beeasily removed through the central opening of the casing l5 for repairand replacement purposes.

port 34 is placed in communication with pipes 3| and 24 for a reverseoperation of the cylinder,

' the port 32 will register with pipes l2 and 35 and I relatively longis placed on supporting blocks Anchored within the shutter casing l5 areleaf springs it, which springs bear against the outer curved surfaces ofthe shutters l6, and normally force the shutters inwardly so they willyieldably bear against the periphery of the cylindrical portion 6 andthe tapered portion of the mandrel 5 in engagement with the outer end ofthe rubber protector 4 andforce the same over the mandrel as it isexpanded by the mandrel. The shutters l6 are limited in their inwardmovement by means of lugs 2| in the path of the removable cap screws 22.It will be noted that the free ends of-the shutters ii are provided witharcuate guide surfaces 23 against which the cap screws 22 engage,therefore itwill be seen that the shutters will be maintained in properrelation with, the rod ends f4 for forming the pivotal point during themovement of the shutters. When it is desired to remove the shutters, itis only necessary to remove the cap pins, and then the shutters can beremoved from the casing l5 and through the shutter head opening I 8.

After the protector has been forced onto the tool joint 2, as shown inFigure 2, air is applied through the pipe 24 to the end B, of thecylinder chamber. This air or fluid will then force the cylinder 10outwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, and at which time a splitsleeve 25 is placed around the mandrel 5wlth one end in engagement withthe rubber protector 4 and the other end in engagement with the shutterhead casing l5. Following this operation air is again applied to the endA of the cylinder chamber and the cylinder is again forced towards themandrel. During this action split sleeve 25 will force the rubberprotector 4 onto the drill pipe section beyond the joint 2 any desireddistance. Usually theprotectors are placed a substantial distance from.the joint. The split sleeve is formed from two sections; hingedlyconnected at 26 and have their free ends provided with hasps 21 and.staples 28 for securing purposes.

Mounted on the stationary piston rod 3 is a guide disc 29 with which therods I3 have slid.- able engagement, hence it will be seen that theshutter head will be held against side movement during its axialmovement.

It is to be understood that fluid or air may be used for operating thedevice and applicant does not limit himself in this particular.

The operation of the device is controlled by a 'four way valve 30 andfluid is supplied through the supply pipe 3| and thence through port 32of the valve and pipe 2 to the end A of the cylinder it) when the valvehandle 33 is in position a, Figure 3. When the valve is in thisposition. it will be noted that the air or fluid in the other end of thecylinder ill at B will how and exhaust through pipe 24, thence throughport 34 to the exhaust pipe 35. It will be noted that when the 38 asshown in Figure 8 and then the reduced end 8 is attached to the mandrel1 after the protector 4 is placed on the portion 6 of the mandrel. Thecylinder III is preferably supported on skids 31, as shown in Figure 8,and which skids have link connections 38 with the cylinder and anextensible Jack connection 39 pivoted at its ends to the skids 31 and tothe cylinder, therefore it will be seen by referring to Figure 8 and thedotted line position shown therein, the cylinder can be adjusted tovarious elevations for axial alinement with pipe i.

It will be noted that by providing the split sleeve 25, the machine canbe made relatively light, and at the same time by the two strokeoperation,'all the advantages of a longer and heavier machine areobtained, therefore it will be seen that the applicator can be easilyhandled, incident to its lighter weight.

From the above it will be seen that a machine is provided for applyingrubber protectors to drill pipe sections which is positively anchored tothe end of the pipe section and mandrel in axial relation and that theshutter head, which engages the protector, will positively force saidprotector over the mandrel and onto the pipe section, applying uniformpressure entirely aroundthe protector.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis: p

1. A machine for facilitating the placement of expansible protectorsonto drill pipe, comprising an expanding mandrel adapted to be rigidlyconnected to a pipe end, a stationary piston rod rigidly and axiallycarried by the mandrel, a piston carried by said rod, a cylinderslidably mounted on the piston rod and piston, means for reciprocatingsaid cylinder on the piston rod and piston, expansible means carried bythe cylinder and adapted to engage one end of the expansible protectorand force the same over the mandrel onto the pipe end as the cylinder isforced towards the mandreLsaid expansible means carried by the cylindercomprising a shutter head. supporting rods connecting the head andcylinder and a guide disc carried by and slidably engaging the pistonrod between the supporting rod and having sliding engagement with thesupporting rods.

2. A machine for facilitating the placement of expansible protectorsonto drill pipe, comprising an expanding mandrel adapted to be rigidlyconnected to a pipe end, a stationary piston rod rigidly and axiallycarried by the mandrel, a piston carried by said rod, a cylinderslidably mounted on the piston rod and piston, means for recip rocatingsaid cylinder on the piston rod and piston, expansible means carried bythe cylinder and adapted to engage one end of the expansible protectorand force the same over the mandrel onto the pipe end as the cylinder isforced towards the mandrel, supporting skids for the cylinder and meansconnecting the skids and cylinder whereby the elevation of the cylindermay be varied in relation to the skids.

3. An applicator for expanding and forcing an expansible protector ontoa pipe end, said applicator comprising a mandrel, a piston anchored tothe outer end of the mandrel in axial relation thereto, a cylinderslidably mounted on said piston, means for supplying fluid to either endof the cylinder for longitudinally moving said cylinder on the pistonaxially of the mandrel, means carried by the cylinder and adapted toengage the protector and force the same over the mandrel onto the pipeend, a shutter head for engaging the protector and forcing the same ontothe mandrel, said shutter head comprising a chambered casing having amandrel passage therethrough,

shutters hingedly mounted within the chamber of the casing around theopening therethrough and springs within the casing and cooperating withthe shutters for normally forcing the same inwardly into the path of theprotector and into engagement with the mandrel.

4. An applicator for expanding an expansible protector onto a pipe end,said applicator comprising a mandrel, a piston anchored to theouter endof the mandrel in axial relation thereto, a cylinder slidably mounted onsaid piston, means for supplying fluid to either end of the cylinder forlongitudinally moving said cylinder on the piston axially of themandrel, means carried by the cylinder and adapted to engage theprotector and force the same over the mandrel onto the pipe end;said'last named means comprising a shutter head for; engaging'theprotector, said shutter head comprising a casing having a mandrelopening therethrough, spring actuated shutters within the casing andadapted to engagethe protector, said shutters being hingedly mounted onpins in recesses in the shutters for allowing easy removal thereof,springs normally forcing said shutters inwardly, limit lugs carried bythe free ends of the shutters and removable members inthe path of saidlugs for limiting the inward movement of theshutters.

RALPH H. HOWARD.

